Casino games come in many different forms, but most can be grouped into a few main categories. Each type has its own rules, way of producing results and payout system.
The most common examples include slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker and casino-style table games. Understanding these basic categories makes it easier to see how casino games differ from one another.
Slot Games
Slots are among the most common casino games.
A typical slot uses reels containing different symbols. The player places a wager and starts the game, after which the reels display an outcome.
The game’s rules determine which symbol combinations produce payouts.
Modern slots can also include features such as:
Unlike blackjack or poker, players normally do not make decisions that change the mathematical outcome after starting a spin.
Roulette
Roulette uses a wheel containing numbered pockets.
In a standard European roulette wheel, there are 37 pockets: numbers 1 through 36 and one zero. American roulette has an additional 00 pocket, giving it 38 pockets.
Players can place different types of bets, such as:
Once the wheel stops, the winning number determines which bets are successful.
The different wheel layouts also affect the game’s mathematics. European roulette has a lower house edge on standard bets than American roulette because it has one fewer zero-related pocket.
Blackjack
Blackjack is a card game in which players compete against the dealer rather than directly against other players.
The basic objective is to have a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand without going over 21.
Players can normally make decisions such as:
The exact rules can vary between casinos and versions of the game.
Because players make decisions during the hand, blackjack has a different game mechanic from games such as roulette and slots.
Baccarat
Baccarat is another card-based casino game.
The main standard bets are generally Player, Banker and Tie. The objective is to predict which side will finish with a hand value closest to nine.
Unlike blackjack, players generally do not decide whether additional cards should be drawn. The dealing rules determine how the hands develop.
Different bets can also have different mathematical house edges.
Casino Poker Games
Poker can mean several different things in a casino environment.
In traditional poker, players generally compete against one another rather than directly against the casino. The casino may instead earn money through a fee or rake for providing the game.
There are also casino poker variants where players compete against the house according to specific rules.
Because of these differences, “poker” is not one single mathematical game.
Craps
Craps is a dice-based casino game.
Players can make many different bets based on the results of dice rolls. Some bets have relatively low house edges, while others have significantly higher mathematical advantages.
The large number of betting options makes craps one of the more complex traditional casino games to understand.
Live-Dealer Casino Games
Live-dealer games combine digital technology with physical casino equipment.
A real dealer may operate a blackjack, baccarat or roulette game in a studio while cameras transmit the action to online players.
The underlying game can therefore resemble its land-based version, while the digital platform provides the interface for placing bets and viewing the game.
How These Games Differ
The major casino game types can be compared by their basic mechanics:
| Game | Main Mechanic |
| Slots | Reels and symbols |
| Roulette | Wheel and numbered pockets |
| Blackjack | Cards and player decisions |
| Baccarat | Cards and fixed dealing rules |
| Poker | Cards and player competition |
| Craps | Dice and multiple betting options |
Each game therefore creates results in a different way.
The Main Casino Game Categories
Although casino games can have countless themes and variations, their underlying mechanics usually remain connected to a recognizable game type.
Slots rely on reels and symbols, roulette on a wheel, blackjack and baccarat on cards, poker on player-versus-player card play, and craps on dice. Learning these basic structures provides a useful foundation for understanding the rules, probabilities, RTP and house-edge statistics associated with different casino games.
